California Trip

I <3 California vacations. I had so much fun! Not least because I got to spend it with Ryan. That made it so much better. I went to Google for lunch (which was pretty good, especially because it was free) and got a tour of some of the places Ryan frequents, including the two pool tables he likes. :P We went out for a wonderful dinner in downtown Mountain View, which isn't saying much since it's about a street long. It was this new Spanish place where the service was good and the food better.

The next day we went to the beach, and drove over the mountains which felt like a cross between the Mediterranean and West Virginia. There were a lot of bikers, most of whom had to be in incredible shape to bike those hills. We also went and saw The Departed, which was really violent and disturbing but incredibly good.

Here are some pictures of the beach that I took.

California Vacation 1

I feel the need to blog

Ok, so right now I am so wired it's crazy. I normally don't drink all that much caffeine (usually a soda now and then) so when I say that I've had a pepsi, a cup of coffee, and an energy drink, you can deduce two things: 1) that I'm so crazy jittery that I could run for hours and 2) I have so much work to do it shouldn't even be legal.

Granted, maybe I'm making too much of this, maybe I'm playing up the whole "OMG no one is busier than me and I'm going crazy it's crazy" thing, but hey, a girl only gets to this a few times a year (if you're lucky and don't go to CMU). I actually shouldn't even be writing now I have so much other stuff I could be writing, like the 5 more essays I have to get out of these tired fingers before tomorrow morning. (I'm not joking either) To put into context, these essays aren't meant to be long, but put enough of them together, and you're bound to be a little jittery too. I've already written 7, just for reference.

But it all pays off. Once I'm done with this stuff, I get to crash for a couple hours (hopefully) and go to class, pack, and be on my merry way to California! It will be such a release. Whew.

Long Time

It's been quite a while since I last posted. There hasn't been too much to report. It's just been business as usual, kind of overwhelmed and a bit frustrated and burned out, but I suppose that's usual for your third year. Some of the things I've been keeping busy with:

- work (of course)
- first CMU ACLU meeting, which was relatively successful
- the Chili Cook-Off, which Soundbytes made really good chili for, although we didn't win
- a lot of reading and writing
- trying not to be down-trodden by professors who suck and are incredibly cruel (in a personal way)
- waiting for midsemester, when I get a respite

Overall, I'm doing okay, although I could use some cheery words to brighten my day. I haven't been getting much of that lately. Just a whole lot of unwelcome criticism. Such is the life of a college student, right?

Just as a reminder: remember to VOTE on November 7th. It's an incredibly important election. There's my two cents on politics (although I could write volumes on the subject).

19 days!

It's official. I just bought my ticket to go to California over midsemester break. Now I will be completely insufferable and unliveable-with for the next three weeks in anticipation. :) Well, maybe not totally, but I'm really excited.

Also, what is this and why was it passed? What has this country come to? This country is a mockery of what it once was, and could be, with things like this happening in our legislature, and it needs to be stopped.

Whew, ok, I've stepped off my soapbox now. I don't say political things that often in this blog, but every so often something is so egregiously wrong that it just needs to be stated. And this is one of those times.

And I thought this year was going to be easy...

But I was wrong. Granted, I love it. But for once I'd like to have a week (or weekend) completely and totally to myself so that I can watch tv, read a recreational book, catch up on some homework, or anything!! I think I need to revamp my time management skills. They got kinda mutilated this summer, when I didn't have anything to do. Man, I was a bum! And I don't know how I got through this summer with my sanity. .... And I feel like a broken record. That's it, NO MORE complaining about work.

In other news, Soundbytes is singing in the Relay for Life talent show this Friday night. Come show some support! It'll be in Gesling Stadium. The event goes all night, but the talent show is from 8-9pm. Hope to see you there!!

Oh, and I <3 running. :)

New Blog Format

I just switched to the new beta of Google's blogger, and I really like it. It's a lot easier to personalize (especially for non-technical people like me). In switching I decided that I wanted to change the whole layout of my blog, because I was sick of the old one. So enjoy the new look!

In other news, today I'm being voted on for Student Senate. Wish me luck! I really hope I get it. I could do so much good. :)

My life on speed

So, someone who reads this blog must have noticed that something happened to me at the end of August, because I stopped posting. I find it very humorous that the lazy slow summertime yielded more blog posts than the current helter-skelter pandemonium of my current state. I have way more to say right now, but much less time to say it. Ah, so it goes...

I have been so busy with things that today was a marked contrast from the previous three weeks. I finally got a day to veg without feeling guilty (or missing some meeting). This is my first weekend to myself, and I LOVE it. Granted, I still have tons of work, and Soundbytes callbacks, and grading, and sleep to catch up on, but I get to make my schedule, rather than have it dictated for me by the myriad meetings I attend every week. Who knew my life could get so packed?

Last night I went to an awesome party. Unfortunately I couldn't stay later than midnight because I had to get up early for Soundbytes callbacks, which were fun, and sad in a way. I hate getting to know people only to have to give them a rejection, because everyone is nice and friendly and has some quality that makes them cool, but the sheer fact is that 90% of them won't make it. If we weren't that selective our group would be up to 50 people by now. Talk about a choir!

The rest of the day I spent vegged in front of the tv (productive, I know). I'll go do some reading now, or programming or something. I just really needed this time to chill, because next week will be another hold-on-by-the-fingernails week. And tomorrow is a major work day. I have to hold 3-4 hours of Soundbytes callbacks, grade, program, read, start my research and do stuff for work, update my resume, and look into the Truman Scholarship (which will be one hell of a commitment). I'm not sure that I'll have time, but I'm going to try to make time for it. 30,000 dollars for grad school? Sounds good to me.

Switching into high gear

Oi!

That's the word of the hour, the day, the week, the year. I've had a week of class and already I'm behind on my homework, tired, and stressed. Granted, not all of that has to do with school-related stuff. I mean, I'm only taking four classes.... but I'm doing research with SDS.... and I'm TA-ing.... and I'm still director of Soundbytes.... and I work for the ACLU still.... and I'm in Student Senate.... and I'm choreographing for DS.... and I have to go to a funeral on Saturday.... and Ryan just left after visiting for a weekend..............

Hence the Oi!

However, once things quiet down (IF things quiet down) I think I'm going to have a great semester, and a great year. I was hoping to take it easy this year, but given everything else I'm doing, or planning on doing, that probably won't happen. And it's looking like I won't have an easy Senior year either, since I'm seriously considering the 5th year master's program in public policy, and that starts in your Senior year.

On a lighter note, Ryan's visit was spectacular, and I got to see a ton of him and a lot of his friends, which was really nice. I ate better than I have in a long time, but I think that was because I was eating with him, and company makes food so much better. We went to Frick Park, and to half off, and visited Rolli and such, and hung out with some Soundbytes people. The only downside to this weekend was that I got behind on work that I should have been doing, but I can make it up. At least he helped me on my programming (I'm gonna miss having him around for that). :)

Ok, bedtime. The morrow brings much busy-ness and stress. But I can handle it. If I keep telling myself that, it's bound to be true, right?

Back in the 'burgh!

I'm back in Pittsburgh, and although home is fun, I've missed being at CMU when people are here! I love love LOVE my apartment (I have air conditioning, beat that!) and the location is great.

I'm excited about classes and work and everything. I'm still doing research, and I got accepted to be a TA for Stats I. I think I'll probably take the research for credit, since I can't take 5 classes and work 20 hours a week, with all my other activities as well.

In other news, Ryan is coming to visit in less than a week!! I'm so excited. Luckily for me, I'll be so busy that I won't have time to get antsy. :)

last day at home :(

I've been home for less than 2 weeks, and it's already time to go back to CMU. It makes me really sad, because I really like being home, and I wish I was here for a longer period of time. I like hanging out with my brother and my parents.

I went to visit a good friend of mine a couple days ago, which was great. I hadn't seen her in a year, and we had a lot of fun just hanging out and watching Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease (apparently it is a really good workout, but it's also extremely funny).

I don't get to come home again until Thanksgiving, but I'm hoping to at least come for another weekend so I can see the marching band play. It's my brother's last year in it, and I want to be able to support him, and see how cool the show is this year.

Incidentally, the weather here has also been spectacular, and it shows off the best side of the area. I never really knew how pretty my hometown was before, so it makes me happy that I have finally realized it.

However sad I am that I'm not going to be home for longer, and the fact that moving really sucks, I'm excited to be back at CMU and making my new apartment homey. I hope this year will be fun. I know it will be exhausting and busy. Not only do I have a research position and a full class schedule, but I just found out that I got accepted to be TA for Stats (which I really want to do) and I want to join even more groups than I was in the previous two years, and get more involved in stuff. I don't know what I'm going to do. Lauren just doesn't have time for all the things she wants to do. :( Hopefully it will all work out.

In the meantime, I get to be busy and productive and hopefully able to enjoy the most of this fall (I love seasons). Hopefully some of you people out there who read this blog will be able to enjoy it with me. :P

HOME!

I'm finally home for a week and a half, and I'm so glad. I missed being home and with family. I have plans for this week too. I'm trying to clean out my wardrobe, since I still have clothing from middle school in it (I haven't grown much), although I pretty much haven't worn them since then. It's amazing how these things accumulate. My mom also wants me to help her paint the dining room, so that should be fun.... Otherwise, it's relax, sleep, read, exercise a bit, and enjoy the time I've got with my family. The next time I'll get to see them for more than a few days will be Christmas.

Update

So, I hate packing. Yep, this sucks a lot. Not only do I have to pack and unpack twice during the year normally, but because I lived in a sublet for the summer, I have to do it twice as much. I'm currently trying to pack, and in doing so I'm realizing exactly how much stuff I have. Especially clothing.

The worst part about the clothing thing is that I a) have too much of it and b) it all either doesn't fit me anymore or very soon won't. And I really like a lot of what I have. Stupid losing weight. I guess I'll just keep them at home in case I gain it all back again, and in the meantime, go shopping!

last day of work!

Tomorrow is officially my last day of work for the summer!!! I'm so excited, although I'm sure I'll be even more excited tomorrow night. Today was my last official day of work as an intern for the ACLU, although I have a feeling I'll be keeping in touch and working with them more than I had initially anticipated. I really loved working there, and I think it was not only a very beneficial experience from a "future plans" view, but it was just good in and of itself.

So now, on to packing and HOOOOOME!!! For a week, anyway.

Work at its best

I need the summer to be over. I need to go home. I need to do SOMETHING.

I'm so bored. My elbows have sores on them from where I rest them on the table all day.

It's too hot to do anything. It's ennui at its best and worst.

I hate feeling useless.

That's all.

Hot

So who was sooo smart and thought in June, "I don't need an air conditioner, it's too expensive". Yeah, it's been stifling for the past week, and nearly unbearable the past two days. Upper 90s, around 100 with the humidity, and Lauren doesn't have an air conditioner. It's looking to be like this for the next week or so (well, it'll drop a bit, but still be incredibly hot), so I'm basically going to spend as much time as possible in air conditioned spaces, and come home for as little as possible.

This of course, means that I can't eat my food very much (I'm not hungry for it either), so I'll have a ton of food left over to find something to do with before I leave in a week! I'm thinking the earlier the better. Anything to get out of this oppressive heat.

2-0

First off, thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. It was really nice to hear from you all. :)

My family just left for home, as they came to visit me to celebrate the big 2-0. On Friday we went to breakfast with some of my relatives, then went to visit my uncle in the hospital. He recently found out that he has pancreatic cancer, and it's fairly advanced. That wasn't too fun. But enough about that. Then we went to check into our hotel (yeah, we stayed in a hotel in Pittsburgh, although I live here. It made it more vacation-y). Then we went shopping at the Southside Works, where my mother spent way too much for clothes for me (they are extremely pretty though). After that, we went out for indian food. It was their first time, and I'm happy to say they enjoyed it.

On my birthday we went to the Andy Warhol Museum, which is great. Then we went to the Strip and bought food, and I made an interesting discovery. A guy who works at Fudgie Wudgie (the fudge place at the Strip) knows fairly well one of my best friends from elementary school! How wild is that?

My parents took me out to dinner at the Grand Concourse, one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. It's in Station Square at the old train station (eighty foot stained glass windows, marble staircase, the works). It was... superb. Mmm, my mouth is watering....

Today I took them to Phipps, which they had never been to. All in all, a very very wonderful, memorable birthday. I really loved it, and I can't wait to go back home in two weeks!

Birthday Weekend!!

My family is currently en route to Pittsburgh to visit me for my birthday. They've decided to make a sort of holiday out of it, so we're staying at a hotel for two nights and doing fun things in the area.

Unfortunately our plans are a bit up in the air because my uncle recently (as in less than two weeks ago) found out that he has a malignant tumor in his abdominal region. He's in the hospital and not doing very well, so we're told, and so we're going to visit him and wait for more concrete news of his condition.

Otherwise, it's HI HO! I'm going to be 20 and have two more weeks of work. Thank goodness.

Word of the Day

INSIPID

Pronunciation: in-'si-p&d
Function: adjective
Etymology: French & Late Latin; French insipide, from Late Latin insipidus, from Latin in- + sapidus savory, from sapere to taste -- more at SAGE
1 : lacking taste or savor : TASTELESS <insipid food>
2 : lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : DULL, FLAT <insipid prose>

Definition number two really sums up what I’m feeling today about my job. Yes, thank you Lauren for choosing a profession that takes no interest in anyone with less than a master’s degree, even when there's no difference in knowledge…

Swing!

So, swing dancing is so awesome. I went to this place tonight and it was absolutely wonderful. They had an AMAZING live band and a bunch of people who knew how to dance pretty well. A few of them knew how to dance REALLY well, but most of them were better than me. It really makes me want to go and learn more. I think partner dancing is awesome. Too bad my built-in partner is 3000 miles away.... poo on him.

Road Trip details

Finally, I have the time and will to detail a bit of my road trip with y'all. So here are the highlights:

We drove through Kentucky and Illinois and Indiana to get to St. Louis, Missouri, which was a lot of fun. We went to this microbrewery that had the best ribs I'd ever eaten. A lot of the food was organic, and almost all came from local farmers or their own garden. Sweet.

We drove through Missouri and half of Kansas, and it was actually kinda pretty. Missouri is a nice state to drive through, rolling green hills and all. Kansas was a hoot, because half the time driving we tuned into AM stations sponsored by Christian Coalition Family groups and such, and listening the radio stations talk about how to raise your kids "in God's light" or how to deal with non-believers was... illuminating, and often times aggravating.

When we got to Colorado, it, for a long time, looked exactly like Kansas. Very flat, very farm-y. Unfortunately it was extremely overcast and rainy, so we didn't get to see the Rocky Mountains upon approach. However, we stayed there during the night and in the morning hiked out to a panorama point to see the mountains. It was gorgeous.

We drove through the Rockies that day, which was really fun and beautiful. I only wish we could have spent more time there. Then we drove into Utah.

One thing about Utah. Forget what you may have heard about it, it is one of the prettiest states I've ever been to. Full of canyons and mountains and valleys and high altitude desert, it is one spectacular place. We spent several days there, driving through, stopping at scenic overlooks and being amazed by the landscape. We stayed at this one amazing park (Dead Horse Point State Park), which had lovely campsites and in the morning, we hiked to watch the sun rise at Dead Horse Point, which gives a 270-degree view of the canyons and arches that go for miles.

We also visited the Grand Canyon's North Rim, which was lovely and a place I'd want to stay, as it had a hotel of sorts right on the rim. In order to get there we drove through a fire-damaged area. A recent forest fire charred hundreds of acres of forest around the road that leads to the rim, and it was cool to see the charred trunks. It was particularly sad, because the minute you see it, you understand that life will grow back, and fast, and that often it's necessary for these kinds of fires to purge the forest of overgrowth and underbrush.

My favorite part of the trip was going to see the sand dunes in Coral Pink Sands State Park. There are these huge salmon-colored sand dunes in the middle of the mountainy area in Utah, and it was unbelieveable. Soooo beautiful and almost unreal.

We drove into Nevada (which feels like another planet) and drove past Las Vegas, which is the weirdest city in the entire world. It sits in amongst these barren mountains and is so gawdy and crazy and feels like it shouldn't be there because of all the desert that surrounds it. Then we drove past Lake Mead, which is another surreal place. It's this huge vibrant blue lake i n the middle of a desert, with no vegetation around it whatsoever. It was created after the Hoover Dam was built, backing up the Colorado River. The Hoover Dam was cool to see, although there were a lot of people there, and there was a lot of construction, as they're making a bridge byway in view of the dam, so people can get a better look and also eliminate some of the security that comes with driving over the dam.

That night we drove across the Mojave Desert to get to California. The next day we drove up the middle of the state (very deserty and bright) to get to the Sierra Nevadas. We camped among the sequoias and sugarpine trees that night. There were more mosquitos than I had ever seen before.

We got to see the sequoias, which are unbelieveable and beautiful. Ryan bought a seed that he's going to plant to get one to grow. Then we drove to Mountain View.

Mountain View feels like Pleasantville in its cleanliness, newness, and brightness. The weather is temperate and always sunny, the streets are wide and tree-lined, and the buildings look new and well cared-for. We moved Ryan into his apartment, which is cute and will serve him well I think. A day later I left. I think he'll be very happy there. There seems to be a large younger population, and it's a very tech-savvy place (Silicon Valley and all).

Well, that's about it. Apparently during Scouts Ryan's leader-person had a game called Thorns and Roses, in which you told your favorite and worst experience on the trip. My rose was Coral Pink Sands State Park, and for good reason. My thorn (other than having to leave Ryan) was that we had such long days on the road we usually were too tired to do anything but sleep after we got to the campsite, and we often didn't leave early enough to get into camp before dusk.

Overall though, the trip was pleasant and fun and well worth the 10 days it took to drive.